Holding on to "Pura Vida"!

We just got back from vacation in Costa Rica.  What an amazing adventure it was!  We planned this trip a year ago, before all my health issues started so I was especially grateful to be up and able to travel.  We had traveled to Costa Rica about 12 years ago and were very excited to share the experience with the kids this time.  If you love nature and wildlife, Costa Rica is the place to be!   We spent our days observing wildlife, enjoying family time, creating art and practicing our Spanish with the local Costa Ricans we met. We have found them to be some of the friendliest people on earth.
One day, I wore a t-shirt with my sloth design on it and the two local naturalists we were hiking with started discussing whether the simple line drawing of the sloth I drew was a two or a three toed sloth.  They eventually both agreed it must be a two toed sloth because of the color. It was pretty funny!
A popular expression you will hear in Costa Rica is "pura vida"!  It is used as a greeting as well as an expression of a sentiment that says "I wish you a good life!", "Enjoy life" or "Life is great!" It encourages us to slow down and really appreciate all the joys and beauty life gives us.  Witnessing the life style of the Costa Rican people and hearing them use this powerful expression daily, you can't help but be touched by it. So, while we have been unpacking our bags and preparing for the busy holiday season, I have been mindful of keeping "pura vida" close to heart and realizing that this can be a gift that lasts beyond the vacation!

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